Sunshade with Illuminating Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a sunshade with an illuminating device including a biased-arranging post and a canopy assembly having a upright central short pole ( 17 ) carrying a rib-mounting member, a runner, electric wiring and winding line; the rib-mounting member ( 16 ) mounted on top of a central short pole ( 17 ); a plurality of ribs ( 14 ) each having an upper end hinged on the rib-mounting member ( 16 ); a runner ( 18 ) slide-ably mounted on the central short pole ( 17 ) of the canopy assembly; a plurality of stretchers ( 15 ) each having an upper end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of an associated rib and a lower end pivotally connected to the runner ( 18 ); a fabric covering surface supported by a plurality of ribs ( 14 ) forming a canopy of umbrella. An automated opening and closing system includes a motor, a transmission, a line-winding shaft, a pulley system, and a cable system; a pulley system is coupled to an electric motor, a switch ( 33 ) is electrically connected between a power-supply unit ( 22 ) and an electric motor; a main light member ( 32 ) is fixed at the bottom end of the central positioned short pole ( 17 ) of the canopy and energized by a self-contained power source. A cantilever connects with the biased post ( 11 ) as a radius rod suspends and supports the canopy assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application claims the priority benefit of the Chinese patent application No. 200520102570.8, filed on May 27, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sunshade with an illuminating device for providing outdoor illumination.

2. Description of the Related Art

A sunshade for shielding people from sunlight is thus widely used in outdoor café and rest areas as well as on beaches.

An illuminating device is attached to a sunshade for the illumination purpose. The illuminating device needs a long-extended wiring connecting to an indoor socket or a generator for power supply. However, to use generator or long-extended wiring for supplying electricity in outdoor, some times brings big troubles.

Currently used conventional sunshade with illumination has a defect that due to a canopy post erects on the ground in the central position of sunshade, thus, the space for leisure activities and illumination is badly reduced. It is hard to place a main illuminating member in the central position of the direct illuminating area.

Thereby, to design a suitable sunshade in which the pole portion for supporting canopy is located beyond the canopy is required by people. This also is the unique feature of the present invention; it brings facilities for illumination and more space for leisure activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a sunshade with a biased-arranging post, which has a centrally positioned main lighting apparatus providing a relatively high level of light intensity, thus a post portion of sunshade would not become an obstacle of illumination and for fixing a light member which gives a main luminary for the use of reading, playing games, operating a computer or leisure activities. The battery pack and associated solar panel are sufficient to allow the system to operate continuously for a time interval of several hours underneath the canopy without the need of an external power source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reasonable construction of ribs, which provides an easy layout for wiring of many bulbs attached on the ribs.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

A sunshade with an illuminating device in accordance with the present invention includes a post biased erecting on the ground and a canopy assembly; the canopy assembly has a rib-mounting member mounted on the top of its central short pole; a plurality of ribs each having an upper end that hinges on the central short pole; a plurality of stretchers, each having an upper end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of an associated rib and a lower end pivotally connected to the runner, which is slide-ably mounted on a central short pole of the canopy assembly.

One main lighting unit is mounted on the lowest end of the central short pole of the canopy. And at least one light bulb is mounted on at least one of the ribs. The light unit is electrically connected to the solar energy device, thereby providing illumination without the need of an external power source.

A solar energy device is mounted on the top of sunshade for receiving solar energy and transforming solar energy into electricity for providing power to plurality of light bulbs on each rib or on all ribs being electrically connected with one another, and to a central top positioned main lighting source.

The sunshade has a post biased erecting on the ground for providing a non-obstacle central-positioned main illuminating area, and has a cantilever member for supporting the canopy assembly. A pulling bar having a collar slide-ably engaged on the cantilever member maintains cantilever member at a certain inclined angle with respect to the post.

A crankshaft electric switch controls the height of canopy assembly through a motor (not shown) to operate pulley, thereby opening and closing canopy of the umbrella.

A pulley system is coupled through gears to an electric motor. A switch is electrically connected between a power supply and electric motor. Power supply is indicative of rechargeable power system. The solar charger is indicative of alternate power system chargers. External power system charger and solar charger are coupled to power supply to recharge the rechargeable battery elements.

The main light member is energized by the self-contained power source of the sunshade. A power unit is provided on the uppermost portion of the umbrella, a DC battery pack is provided as an input to an inverter, a power inverter supplies alternating current to the lights. A bottom portion of power unit defines an interior battery compartment.

Additionally, power unit carries a coupling mechanism to allow coupling between power unit and a rib-mounting member of a short central pole of umbrella. The short central pole portion is adapted at an upper end with thread to release-ably receive power unit. During daylight hours, solar energy is collected by solar panels and is converted and utilized to recharge the rechargeable power source, which is maintained within battery compartment. There is a plug-socket electric connection between the power source and the rib-mounting member.

Automated opening and closing system is carried at the uppermost portion of short central pole, which includes a motor, a transmission, a line-winding shaft, a pulley system, and a cable system. The opening and closing system includes a pulley system being coupled through gears to an electric motor. A switch is electrically connected between a power-supply unit and an electric motor. Preferably it is disposed on the biased pole (11) of the sunshade.

The illuminating device in accordance with the present invention includes at least one light unit mounted on one or more of the ribs. Wiring passes through the hollow interior of the ribs with electrically connecting sockets. All ribs being electrically connected with one another. The interior space of the ribs comprising two parts, one is a first chamber being a longitudinally arranged long slot which opens upwards for accommodating the electrical wiring cables, the other is a secondary chamber which is composed by four surrounding walls. On the downward bottom wall of the second chamber there are many light bulbs arranged along the longitudinal direction. The lights are release-ably attached on the bottom wall through socket.

A sunshade in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of ribs each having an upper end pivotally connected to the rib-mounting member, which is fixed at the top position of central short pole of canopy. A runner slide-ably mounted on the central short pole.

There is a wiring-fastener locating in the first chamber of ribs for fastening the electric wiring in place. The fastener may be a lid, which preferably is long-thin section of plastic arranged between adjacent light bulbs. The wiring-fastener lid has an inclined surface that faces to the wiring cables. The socket penetrates second chamber and projects into the first chamber of the rib.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view illustrates the layout and fastening of wiring in the cavity of ribs.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view illustrates the layout and fastening of wiring and bulbs in the cavity of ribs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG.1, an illuminating device in accordance with the present invention is attached to a sunshade that generally comprises a biased-arranging post 11; a rib-mounting member 16 on top of a centrally positioned short pole 17; a plurality of ribs 14 each having an end pivotally connected to the rib-mounting member 16, which is fixed at the top position of the central short pole 17; a runner 18 slide-ably mounted to lower place of the centrally positioned short pole 17 underneath the canopy; a plurality of stretchers 15 each having a lower end pivotally connected to the runner 18 and upper end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of an associated one of the ribs 14.

The sunshade has a biased-arranging post 11 for providing a non-obstacle central-positioned main illuminating area, and has a cantilever member 13 for supporting the canopy assembly. A pulling bar 12 having a collar slide-ably engaged on the cantilever member 13 maintains cantilever member 13 at a certain inclined angle with respect to the biased-arranging post 11. An electric switch 33, which is disposed on a crankshaft controls a motor (not shown) to operate pulley, thereby opening and closing the canopy of the umbrella.

A pulley system is coupled through gears to an electric motor. A switch is electrically connected between a power source and electric motor.

Power source is indicative of rechargeable power system. Solar charger is indicative of alternate power system chargers. External power system charger and solar charger are coupled to the power source to recharge the rechargeable battery elements.

Automated opening and closing system includes a motor, a transmission (not shown), a line-winding shaft, a pulley system, and a cable system. The opening and closing system includes a pulley system being coupled through gears (not shown) to an electric motor. A switch 33 is electrically connected between a power-supply unit and an electric motor.

The illuminating device in accordance with the present invention includes at least one light unit 31 mounted on one or more of ribs 14. Electric wirings pass through the hollow interior of the ribs electrically connecting with sockets. All ribs being electrically connected with one another. Refer to FIG. 2 the sectional drawing shows interior space of the ribs comprising two parts, one is a first chamber (141) being a longitudinally arranged long slot which opens upwards for accommodating the electrical wiring cables 42, the other is a secondary chamber (142) which is composed by four surrounding walls. On the bottom wall of the second chamber (142) there are many light bulbs 31 arranged in series along the longitudinal direction. The lights 31 are release-ably attached on the bottom wall through socket 44. There is a wiring-fastener locating in the first chamber (141) of ribs for fastening the electric wiring in place. The fastener of electric wiring is a lid 43, which is a long-thin section of plastic strip arranged between adjacent light bulbs (31) in series. The wiring-fastener lid (43) has an inclined surface (431) facing to the wiring cables 42. The socket (44) of the light in series penetrates second chamber (142) and projecting into the first chamber (141) of the rib.

The main light member 32 is fixed at the bottom end of the central positioned short pole 17 of the canopy and energized by the self-contained power source of the sunshade. A power unit is provided on the uppermost portion of the umbrella, a DC battery pack (23) is provided as an input to an inverter (not shown), a power inverter supplies alternating current to the lights. A bottom portion of power unit defines an interior battery compartment. Additionally, the power unit carries a coupling mechanism (not shown) to allow coupling between power unit and a rib-mounting member 16 of a short central pole (17) of umbrella, pole portion (17) being adapted at an upper end with thread to release-ably receive power unit.

During daylight hours, solar energy is collected by solar panels (22) and is converted and utilized to recharge the rechargeable power source, which is maintained within battery compartment. There is a plug-socket 21 electrically connection between the power source 22 and a plurality of wiring cables at the rib-mounting 16. 

1. A sunshade with an illuminating device comprising: a biased-arranging post; a canopy assembly having an upright central short pole carrying a rib-mounting member, a runner, electric wiring; a rib-mounting member mounted on top of the central short pole; a plurality of ribs each having an upper end hinged on the rib-mounting member; the runner slide-ably mounted on the central short pole of the canopy assembly; a plurality of stretchers each having an upper end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the associated rib and a lower end pivotally connected to the runner; a fabric covering surface supported by the ribs forming a canopy of umbrella; a main light member energized by a self-contained power source; and a cantilever, which connects with the biased post to suspend and support the canopy assembly.
 2. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 1, wherein there is a pull bar over the cantilever, which having one end through a collar slide-ably engaged with the cantilever member, and the other end pivotally connects to top portion of the biased-arranging post.
 3. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 1, wherein the rib has an upwards opened first chamber and a second chamber being a rectangular chamber formed by four surrounding walls, a plurality of bulbs being attached on the rib.
 4. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 3 wherein the first chamber is a longitudinally long slot in the rib, which opens upwards for accommodating the electrical wiring cables, a wiring-fastener inserted in the first chamber has a long-thin section of plastic arranged between adjacent light bulbs along the rib to retain the wiring in place, the wiring-fastener has an inclined surface facing to the wiring cables.
 5. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 3 wherein on bottom wall of the second chamber there are a plurality of light bulbs arranged in series along the rib, each socket of the light bulbs penetrates through the second chamber and projects into the first chamber of the rib.
 6. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 1, wherein the self-contained power source is a power unit having a DC battery pack provided as an input to an inverter which supplies alternating current to the lights, and having a solar panel provided at the uppermost portion of the umbrella to collect solar energy.
 7. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 3, wherein the self-contained power source is a power unit having a DC battery pack provided as an input to an inverter which supplies alternating current to the lights, and having a solar panel provided at the uppermost portion of the umbrella to collect solar energy.
 8. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 1, wherein there is a plug-socket electrical connection relationship between the self-contained power source and rib mounting member located at top position of the central short pole.
 9. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 8 wherein a bottom portion of power unit defines an interior battery compartment.
 10. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 8, wherein power unit carries a coupling mechanism to allow coupling between power unit and a rib-mounting member of a short central pole.
 11. The sunshade with an illuminating device of claim 1, wherein said main lighting member is disposed at lowest end of the central short pole of canopy assembly. 